Plus DrewToonz, the Album of the Week (The Roots), and music history exhibit at WheatonArts in Millville.
Boardwalk Empire’s Agent Sebso Stars in New Rap Video
When Agent Sebso was killed by baptism — in Mays Landing — by his on-screen partner Nelson Van Alden in the first season of the HBOseries Boardwalk Empire, fans of the show probably thought they’d seen the last of the comical, yet shifty character portrayed by actor Erik Weiner. But, if you had known that Weiner is also a lyricist and rapper, and were familiar with his “One Line on ‘The Sopranos’” viral video, you may have had a hunch you’d see him again on the HBO set of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. In fact, it was due to his viral video that got him the part of Agent Sebso on Boardwalk Empire in the first place. You see, the show’s creator Terry Winter wrote that “one line” that Weiner had on The Sopranos and wanted him for the part of the Prohibition agent. Although Weiner’s character died during season one, he wrote a rap song called “Boardwalk Empire State of Mind,” recorded it in his closet and gave CD copies to Winter, as well as many other members of the crew and cast.
Ed McGinty, an Atlantic City native who not only plays Ward Boss Boyd on the show, but is also a researcher for the writing team, not only loved the song, but decided to work with Weiner to make a video for it. McGinty, who has studied filmmaking, acting and screenwiritng, and who has shot a number of other music videos, got access to the show’s New York set this past Labor Day where he and Weiner, who had re-written the song for a public audience, shot the video with only one other actress. Hilarious and utterly entertaining, “Boardwalk Empire State of Mind” has already tickled the funny bones of more than 60,000 viewers on YouTube alone since its debut on the Internet video site last Wednesday night, Dec. 8. On a conference call with both McGinty and Weiner a week later, the pair tells AC Weekly they are thrilled at the response and felt the timing of the video’s release was perfect in relation to the final episode of season two. (Watch full video below) Click here to read interview with Ed McGinty and Erik Weiner about the video. — Jeff Schwachter
Explore American Roots Music History in Millville
The WheatonArts and Cultural Center, a non-profit organization fostering art as a key educational component, is hosting a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit called New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music now through Dec. 31. The exhibition tells the story of the nation through the music of its people with a blend of photographs, recordings, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles. It explores the distinct cultural identities of roots-music genres like gospel, country, blues, zydeco, tejano, bluegrass and others, and explains how these forms set the foundation for many other musical genres throughout the world. “The exhibition will examine the progression of American roots music, as rich and eclectic as our country itself,” says Iveta Pirgova, director of the WheatonArts Folklife Center. “We are very pleased to be able to bring New Harmonies to our area. It allows us the opportunity to explore this fascinating aspect of our own region’s musical history, and we hope that it will inspire many to become even more involved in the cultural life of our community.” WheatonArts is at 1501 Glasstown Rd. in Millville (about 35 miles west of Atlantic City). The Smithsonian exhibition is in WheatonArts’ Museum of American Glass. It is open Tues.-Sun., 10am-5pm, through Dec. 31. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7 for students, and free for children under age 5. Call 856-825-6800 or visit wheatonarts.org.— Ray Schweibert
The Roots
Undun (Def Jam)
The Roots, Philadelphia’s kings of hip-hop, and the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, have their first concept album with undun, released earlier this month on Def Jam. The story of a fictional deceased character, Redford Stevens, is presented in reverse as Black Thought and other Roots crew rappers breath life into a man, his back up against a wall, whose life — and death — plays out as a modern-day tragedy. Perhaps not the most accessible of the Roots’ many fine albums. undun, through killer lyrics, tough beats and subtle soundscapes, along with its unique narrative style, succeeds in documenting a life lost in the money, drugs and gun game. It’s a depressing story, which is obviously a composite of so many unfortunate real-life characters whose lives have been lost for questionable reasons and unfortunate circumstances. The Roots don’t provide any answers here, just an eerie glimpse into one man’s short life, one in which too many young men in America can identify with. — Jeff Schwachter
Drew Toonz (See more here)
“It’s been my love and passion ever since I was five years old and I think this music moves people. People who come to see us, they say, ‘When I got here I was in kind of a blah mood, not so good, or depressed, or whatever and I come out in just a whole different place. I’m laughing, my spirits are lifted, it’s cheaper than going to a psychiatrist!’”
Here is a list of what we think are the cream of the crop for 2011 — the Top 14 Drew Toonz comics of the year.
“[Empire’s] helped remind people of what a colorful history we’ve had as a city, and helped bring these things back into focus for some people. And I think the fact that the series is very well regarded only helps.”
Brainstorm Digital is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company, with an office in Los Angeles, that specializes in high-quality visual effects, such as those that were used on Boardwalk Empire during the series' first season on HBO last year. ...
In a “news” box on the upper right side of the Archeophone Records home page, there’s a list of the songs played thus far in the first two episodes of HBO’s 'Boardwalk Empire,' set in 1920s Atlantic City.
Early in the premiere episode of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, a crowd of dapper Atlantic City movers and shakers, partying well into the night in a spiffy supper club, make a familiar countdown, cocktail glasses held high...
HBO has uploaded the approximately 14-minute behind-the-scenes documentary "The Making of Boardwalk Empire," which premiered...
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